The top 5 rom-coms for your ultimate Valentine's Day

By Jessica Rapana| 3 years ago

It's official: love is in the air.

Even if you're not among the loved up getting *surprise* bunches of roses and gallivanting off on romantic sunset picnics this Valentine's Day, you can still feel the love. Why not curl up with a bottle of red, some hot popcorn and a rom-com — Bridget Jones style. Singing out loud to "All by myself" is, of course, optional.

But when it comes to the perfect Valentine's Day film, where do you start? Don't worry, we've got you covered with the top five films that do the perfect mix of comedy and romance.

5. Sleepless in Seattle

Does it get any more romantic than finding your true love at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day? No. Not only is this iconic 1993 film a classic, it stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in their prime — 'nuff said. It also gives us hope in finding love after love. When Sam (Hanks) loses his wife to cancer, he says he "can't imagine" finding anyone to love as much again. Enter: Annie (Ryan). This film is also a nod to love-at-first-sight, paying tribute to the ultimate romantic movie An Affair to Remember. Basically, if it's not Annie and Sam-level love, we don't want it.

4. Bridget Jones

You really can't look past the moment Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy lock eyes in those hideous Christmas jumpers. Jones, a lovable 32-year-old aspiring reporter and self-declared "spinster" who frequently puts her foot in her mouth, resolves to take control of her life. This means not falling for the same no-good men who have previously taken her fancy, i.e. smug ex-boyfriend Daniel Cleaver (played Hugh Grant). She might not do it gracefully, but she climbs the career ladder as well as ending up in the arms of handsome barrister Mark Darcy, who likes her "just the way she is". Because Mr Right will love you and all your daggy traits.

3. Pretty Woman

Richard Gere and Julia Roberts entangled in an 80s love story about a hooker and a millionaire who fall head over heels. Cut-throat businessman Edward Lewis (Gere) first encounters beautiful escort Vivian Ward (Roberts) on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. The pair come to an agreement, he will pay her to pose as his girlfriend for a week while on a business trip to LA. It also has that iconic scene — Roberts, walks into a high-end store and flaunts all the shopping she's done (with Gere's money) to the shop assistant who dismissed her the day before. Basically, the film is a hilarious take on what happens when two worlds collide and how opposites really can attract. Thinking about about giving it a miss? Big mistake. Huge.

2. Crazy, Stupid Love

We loved them in La La Land, but Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone stole out hearts for the first time in this irresistible film — Crazy, Stupid, Love. Gosling, who plays a suave ladies' man, falls for lawyer Hannah (Stone) after she rejects his advances, while also helping middle-aged dad Cal (Steve Carrell) get his mojo back after his divorce. The reason we love this? It's the perfect taming-of-the-bad-boy type film. Also just, Gosling.

1. When Harry met Sally

When it comes to the ultimate rom-com, you really can't look past When Harry Met Sally. The 1989 classic addresses the age-old conundrum — can guys and girls ever really be just friends? If you want a laugh, it doesn't get much better than rom com queen Meg Ryan's iconic fake orgasm scene. And, if you want romance, the moment when Harry (Billy Crystal) confesses his love for Sally after an 11-year love-hate blurred-lines friendship is everything: I came here tonight because when you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.